White Earth man banned from having gun shoots himself in leg, police say

WHITE EARTH, Minn. - Authorities responding to a report of a shooting here Thursday determined that a convicted felon who isn't supposed to have a gun accidentally shot himself in the leg.

Kristopher Lee Villebrun, 28, of White Earth, was taken by air ambulance to a Fargo hospital after what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting occurred just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

John Seiling of the Becker County Sheriff's Office said that when officers arrived, they were told the injury was caused by a drive-by shooting. But an investigation and witness interviews confirmed the shooting was accidental, Seiling said.

The entry wound was in Villebrun's left thigh and the bullet exited the back of his leg. It appears to have been caused by a .22-caliber weapon. Villebrun’s wound is not considered life-threatening.

Authorities said Villebrun is a convicted felon and can’t legally possess firearms.